The grand ballroom of the Taj Palace Hotel was alive with anticipation on the second day of the FAITH Conclave 2025, as industry veterans, policymakers, and global delegates gathered to hear the Union Tourism Minister present his ambitious blueprint for India’s tourism future.
Addressing a packed audience, the Minister declared that India was entering a “golden decade of tourism,” driven by infrastructure upgrades, liberalised policies, and strong destination branding. “We are moving from being a country of potential to a country of realised promise,” he said, outlining plans to expand e-visa facilities to more nations, invest in last-mile connectivity, and promote niche sectors such as adventure, spiritual, and wellness tourism.
Highlighting India’s rise from 54th to 39th place in the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index over the past three years, he hailed it as proof of positive momentum and effective policy. Yet, he cautioned that infrastructure alone was not enough. Equal emphasis, he said, must be placed on experiential tourism, improved hospitality standards, and the development of skilled human capital to ensure sustainable growth.
With nearly 10 million foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) recorded in 2024, the Minister expressed confidence that the target of 20 million was within reach—provided there was strategic collaboration across the industry, enhanced amenities, and innovative offerings such as curated wellness retreats and immersive cultural trails.
Urging all stakeholders—from industry leaders to government agencies—to unite in this effort, he acknowledged the robust rebound in domestic travel but stressed that achieving the FTA milestone could not rely on government initiatives alone.
In a major announcement, he unveiled the National Tourism Digital Mission—an integrated platform designed to connect all state tourism boards, private operators, and booking platforms into one interoperable system. This, he said, would streamline visitor experiences, enhance transparency, and boost efficiency.
Closing his remarks, the Minister reaffirmed the conclave’s importance as a unifying stage where public-sector discipline and private-sector creativity can come together to position India as an irresistible global destination.
